Thankful Thursday

Today I am joining up over at Grace Alone for Thankful Thursday.

1. Thankful for sweet prayer time at church last night. Our Wednesday night prayer time is one of my favorite quiet times with the Lord each week.

2. DH leading one of his discipleship class members to the Lord last night.

3. New to me dryer....our recent "free" dryer died yesterday, but we were able to easily replace it with a great Kenmore we found at the Appliance Hospital. Our last $75 Appliance Hospital dryer lasted 15 years.

4. Mission's Conference is next week. Looking forward to getting to know some wonderful servants of God.

5. The plans of God. They are always better than my own!

Leave a comment and share what you are thankful for this Thursday!

Farmer Gina

On Saturday, with a dripping nose and a cough that sounded like a barking dog, I ventured out into my yard to start clearing the spot where I am itching to plant my garden vegetables. The weather was a little overcast but the temperatures were just right.

So out by pond #2 I started clearing the old brush and weeds. Before you know it, I had unveiled beautiful, rich, black soil. I love black dirt. It's a bit different from the Georgia clay that I grew up around! It took a couple of hours, some sweat, one coughing fit, a water break and a big rake to tackle the project, but once it was done.....so nice! I have lots of little piles of straw, weeds, dead plants and small limbs all around my yard...but that one area is looking so good. So ready. It's calling my name. One more week. I can't wait!

For cool weather planting I am planting from seed:

Broccoli
Spinach
Carrots
Onions
Potatoes
Peas

I'm also planting:

Shasta Daisies

Gladiolus

It's going to be beautiful!

I'm ready for some of this...

How 'bout you?

Book Reviewers Needed

As you know by now, I work from home as a publicist assistant. We promote great Christian fiction and non-fiction and are looking for reviewers to read the books and then post reviews about them. If you are interested click here:  http://tr.im/OCxa

Eavesdropping

Today I overheard Tucker saying something like..."Deet (his name for Savannah) you're my sister." to which Savanah told him "You were adopted".....hmmm, funny since I distinctly remember carrying him in my womb for almost 9 months. What in the world?????

Don't worry...I cleared it up.

Look at this!

Jog over...well ok...click on over to Brewer Babble today for some great insight on enjoying the journey. Go ahead....do it!

Paths Crossed

Do you ever wonder why God allows your path to cross someone else's...even if just for a brief moment in time? I do. In fact just yesterday, for the second time since we moved to our new town, I was faced with this very question.

About 3:30pm a woman appeared at our door in tears. We didn't know her.She was 60ish...and obviously upset about something. Bruce was home and called me to the door as he was inviting her in (I can see my mom reading this...and having heart failure...sorry, mom....Bruce didn't learn the rule about not allowing strangers in the house) So I offered her some water and peanut butter crackers. She gave us her story (which I probably shouldn't divulge here, so I won't....but I will tell you it was true and heart wrenching) and within minutes we had summed up that fact that the woman was mentally disturbed. Not violent, just confused. We didn't know what to do, so after a few calls to be sure we were doing the right thing, we called the police. I am pretty sure all my neighbors were wondering why 3 police cars were at my house!

They treated her kindly and she went willing with them, I am pretty sure they took her home.

If you remember before Christmas I shared the story about the man digging through our trash, so this story is filed in the same folder. Why God? What was the purpose of our paths crossing? Did we do the right thing?

What I learned from this is that everyone has a story. As I sat and cautiously listened to this ladies story I realized that some terrible and traumatic events can totally change a woman's life. Other's actions impact and influence the mental and emotional state of others. So, if for no other reasons I hope it will make me more tender to the way I treat and speak to others. I also sensed the deep and never-ending love of a mother-that death cannot quench. I hope I never have to experience what this woman has in her life.

A Georgia Peach

Sydney sure did make my visit to GA priceless!

She and I had a spend the night party in the guest room so her mom and dad could get a decent night's sleep. We partied it up until about 12:30, then got up for a snack (AKA bottle) at 5:30am and went back to sleep until almost 9am. She's a sweetie! I can't wait for my kids to meet her.

Heading Home and Prayer Request

I'll be heading to ATL, GA first thing in the morning. I'll be walking on Peach State soil shortly after noon. I don't know how much I will be posting over the next week since I will be affectionately consumed with the beautifulest (yes, you read right) new member of our family, my niece, Miss Sydney. She's about 6 weeks old now and ready for some new scenery...so I must go. She needs her GG. While I am away I really NEED you to do something for me...will you?

A friend of ours at church, who also happens to lead our student ministry right now, had emergency surgery last Thursday to remove his appendix and other affected areas where a large tumor was discovered. The prognosis was not looking good. It will take two weeks to get the full pathology report. However, Saturday, they were given a glimmer of hope regarding Brian's condition. It's a glimmer, but we know with God that HE can do ANYTHING.

Will you take time to lift up this precious family with me? Brian has a sweet wife and two young daughters. Thankfully they know Jesus. In fact Brian's wife has on her facebook "God is Good" even now during this time.

Thanks for praying.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

1.Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him.

2.Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything.

3.Because God is ever-present...He is always with me.

4.Because God knows everything...I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.

5.Because God is sovereign...I will joyfully submit to His will.

6.Because God is holy...I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship and service.

7.Because God is absolute truth...I will believe what He says and live accordingly.

8.Because God is righteous...I will live by His standards.

9.Because God is just...He will treat me fairly.

10.Because God is love...He is unconditionally committed to my well being.

11.Because God is merciful...He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.

12.Because God is faithful...I will trust Him to always keep His promises.

13.Because God never changes...my future is secure and eternal.

- Dr. William R. Bright

Prayer

When the heart hurts
When the darkness falls
When the incredible feelings of sadness overcome
When tears fall like floods from the sky
....my faith is in YOU

When terrible tragedy strikes
When fears paralyzes
When regrets haunt
When emptiness consumes
....my faith is in YOU

When cloudy skies shadow life
When temporal feels like eternal
When flesh cries out in weakness
When people fail
....my faith is in YOU

Maker,
Defender,
Physician,
Immortal,
Father,
Savior,
Redeemer,
Creator,
Friend,
Mighty God,
Prince of Peace,
Comforter.

You have borne our grief,
You feel our sorrow.
You feel the pains of this world more than our skin ever could.

....My Faith is in YOU.

Thankful Thursday

 I'm joining up with a new Thankful Thursday until my friend Sonya comes back from her blogging sabbatical. I'm joining in on Grace Alone's Thankful Thursday. I hope you can find something to be thankful for today! 

1. I am thankful for a loving, faithful God who says come to Him when I am burdened and He will give me rest.

 

2. I am thankful for our Wednesday Night prayer service at church where I enter a quiet sanctuary and talk to an incredible God about life, disappointments, fears, failures and thank Him for handling it all!

 

3. I am thankful for a warm home where love abounds.

 

4. I am thankful for jeans that fit better after my first month of dieting.

 

5. I am thankful for little ways that I see my 7yo daughter growing in Christ.

 

What are you thankful for?

How much longer???

My kids are really good travelers. Good thing since much of our family lives 800 miles away! But probably just like your kids, there comes a time in the trip where "How much longer?" and "Are we there yet?" become echoes from the deep back seat of boredom. The DVD player has been tuned out, coloring books are littering the floorboard and crayons are melting between the seats. They've had enough.

There are a few areas in life that cause me to feel that way. I find myself asking "How much longer Lord?", "Are we there yet, God?" Am I alone? Patience is a tough virtue to learn. I remember Bruce preaching on the fruits of the spirit once and saying that they aren't just yours because you are a Christian. They are developed, worked out and shine as you walk with Christ. Bummer, because I think it would be much easier if when you became a Christian you also received a fully developed stockpile of love, joy, peace, patience...and more. I guess that's the lazy way out. I want the end result NOW! I don't want to wait. Delayed gratification has never been my forte'!

So as I wait on the green light with God I pray....Lord, give me the patience to stay by your side and wait these moments out with you. Help me enjoy the time in sweet fellowship with you as you teach me that your ways are perfect always.

Warmth on a Winter Day

Yesterday's sermon at church stepped on my toes. Pastor was finishing up a series on Colossians. He was making points regarding Paul remembering those who had walked beside him in his ministry. Onesimus, Luke and others who Paul loved and served beside him witnessing for Christ were mentioned. It was a beautiful picture of how God wants the body of Christ to work together. There's no question, even in this last part of Colossians that as humans there are those who rub us the wrong way and who we would rather NOT work with, but Paul cautions us to be willing to see their strengths also. And...you can hear the heartbreak as his pen touches paper and records the one sentence about the one who served and then left the work of the Lord.

As Bruce and I approach being in the ministry for 16 years we look around and are thankful for those who we serve alongside. I am blessed by the hard work of those in our church. I am blessed by the many years of faithfulness of our pastor. I am thankful for the hours of work unseen by a selfless grounds keeping crew. I am thankful for our music minister and his wife...who do way more than music! I am thankful for the one who makes coffee in our Sunday School class and the ones that take attendance. I am thankful for the secretaries. I am thankful for our musicians who humbly serve each week. For each choir member, teacher, helper, usher, deacon, Caraway and children's choir worker, AWANA worker....and all the ones that escape my mind...I am thankful....and touched by the spirit that exudes from your service. I am thankful for the staff and the closeness we experience - For crazy game nights and fellowship with friends. It refreshes my soul like sunshine on a winter day.

It's good to reflect. Churches don't just happen. I am purposing to be more thankful for those working hard to serve in the body of Christ. I figure if Paul thought it was important to remember...then I should too.